Blackpink 31
Blackpink

SEOUL — A woman was arrested in western Seoul on Thursday night after allegedly attempting to smash a glass door at YG Entertainment's headquarters with a golf club, an incident that unfolded as the agency faced mounting fan backlash over how it planned to mark Blackpink's 10th anniversary.

Police in the capital's Mapo District arrested the woman at the scene and were questioning her Friday about the circumstances surrounding the incident and her possible motive, according to police cited by the Korea JoongAng Daily. A video that circulated widely on social media appeared to show the woman lunging toward the building's entrance before repeatedly swinging the club at the glass door.

According to a separate account reported by IBTimes Singapore, the force of the strikes caused the doors to open, after which the woman entered the building before staff intervened and police were called. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.

An unverified account of the moments before

An eyewitness account that circulated widely online, though not independently confirmed by authorities, described the moments leading up to the attack. According to a post shared on social media and reported by IBTimes Singapore, the individual approached bystanders outside the building and asked someone to briefly watch a dog before walking toward the entrance and striking the door.

Police have not officially confirmed the woman's motive or released additional details about potential charges as of Friday. Multiple outlets, including AsianJunkie, reported that online speculation had linked the incident to fan anger over Blackpink's anniversary plans, though that connection has not been confirmed by investigators.

Backlash builds over anniversary event plans

The arrest came amid growing fan frustration over how YG Entertainment planned to mark 10 years since Blackpink's Aug. 8, 2016, debut. YG announced Thursday — the same day as the alleged attack — that it would hold an anniversary meet-and-greet event on Saturday, but the announcement drew immediate criticism from fans over its short notice and limited scope.

According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, some fans criticized the two-day notice and the event's capacity of just 40 attendees. Applications were also restricted to fans holding paid memberships, which some subscribers said had offered little direct interaction with the members over the past year. Compounding the frustration, YG's initial notice did not guarantee that all four Blackpink members would attend, stating instead that only those available would take part.

Fan site allkpop reported additional grievances, noting that international fans expressed disappointment online, with some commenting that even a brief livestream with all four members would have sufficed given the milestone nature of a 10th anniversary. Fans also pointed to a broader pattern, noting the group has held relatively few dedicated fan events or livestreams since renewing its group contract in 2023, despite continuing to release music and tour.

YG confirms full group attendance

Following the backlash — and hours after the golf club incident — YG Entertainment moved to address fan concerns directly. According to the Express Tribune, Rosé became the first member to publicly confirm her attendance at the anniversary event, with her agency, The Black Label, saying in a statement, "We have ensured well in advance that all necessary arrangements were coordinated and secured so that she can share this meaningful moment with her fans."

YG Entertainment later confirmed that all four members — Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa — would attend Saturday's event. A representative for the label said, "After checking with the label, we have confirmed that all four members will be attending."

Jisoo addresses fan disappointment directly

As the event approached, member Jisoo also spoke to the controversy. According to allkpop, Jisoo apologized to fans ahead of the anniversary gathering, and the group went on to hold what allkpop described as an emotional 10th-anniversary livestream in which she addressed the disappointment fans had expressed over the limited scale of the celebration.

A milestone year clouded by tension

Blackpink's 10th anniversary arrives during what has otherwise been an active period for the group, which reunited to tour and release new music following the 2023 contract renewal that kept all four members with YG. The group has also rolled out a "Blackpink Heritage Collection," a 10th-anniversary merchandise collaboration with the National Museum of Korea, though that rollout became an additional point of comparison for fans frustrated by the scale of the meet-and-greet.

The Seoul Mapo Police Station's investigation into the golf club incident remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to question the woman about her motive. YG Entertainment has confirmed the incident occurred but has otherwise declined to provide further details, according to Asian Junkie's reporting.

Neither YG Entertainment nor police have released the woman's identity or confirmed what charges, if any, she may face as the investigation continues.

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